Bumper



Dec. 18, 1928. 1.895,786

G. W. VEALE BUMPER Filed Aug. 22, 1927 I TI. 19

e `of the clamp atented Dec, 18, 1928. w

' sTA'TEs 11595386 PATENT oFiFlcE.

GEORGE W. VEALE, OF CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, O'IIO,'ASSIGNOR T0 THE EATON AXLE& PR'ING COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, QHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

BUMPER.

Animation med |,August 22, 1927. serial No. 214,584. i

This invention relates to bumpers for automobiles; having referencepartlcularly to clamps 'for bumpers of the type in which a plurality ofimpact bars are spaced apart, one above the other. w

The common practice heretofore has been to carry one plate of the clampacross the entire face of the bumper and to bend 1ts ends so as toextend over theupper edge of the upper bar and the lower edge of thelower bar in order to prevent the bars from Spreading, while the barswere definitely spaced apart by a spacing block integral with one of theclam lates- One o t e objects .of the invention, therefore, is theprovision of a simple clamp of small size and li ht weight, which shallnevertheless efi'ectlvely prevent the movement of the bars toward oraway fromeach other, and without the use of a spacer block between thebars.

Another object is the rovision of a clamp of this character which 1sespecially adapted :or use on bumpers'having grooved-impact ars.

Other objects and features of novelty will appear as I proceed with thedescriptionof that embodiment of the invention which, for the purposesof the present application,I I have illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, in which Figures 1 and 2 are plan and elevational views,respectively, of a bumper embodying `my 1nvent1on.

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section taken substantially on theline 3-3 of Figure 2, but on alarger scale. Figure 4 is a front view ofthe outer. plate employed in the construction of Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is a'sectional view corresponding to Fig. 3, but showing amodication, and

Figure 6 is a front view of the outer plate of the clamp shown in Figure5.

In Figures 1, 2 and 3 I have illustrated a bumper comprising a lpair ofvertically spaced impact bars 10 and 11. These barsfare I evenly spacedfor a distance-on either'side.

of the point where the clamp is applied. w The construction. andmounting of the bars therebeyond is `of no moment so far as the present*invention is concerned. However, in the disclosure emplo ed here, forpurposes of 1llustration, these ars are evenly spaced throughout theirlength, and at the ends of the bumper are rebent, as showncat 12 inFig. 1. The

`extremities of these bars are attached to a rear bumper bar 18 b meansof plates 14, which are generally trlangular in Shape, the

lbars 10 and 11 being each attached to a plate 14 by a rivet 15, and thebar 13 being attached to each of the plates 14 by two rivets 16. Thebars 10 and 11 are provided in their outer surfaces with longitudinalgrooves 17 extending throughout the length of the bars.

'At the middle of the bumper I provide i ,sisting of a threaded stem 20,which is mounted in the plate 18 and extends through a suitable hole inthe plate 19. This stem or bolt 20 also extends through a hole in therear bar,13 of the bumper, and the parts ,may be drawn up into clampingrelation and held there -by means of' av nut 21 withl a lock washer 22Vinterposed between it and the bar 13. The plate 18 carries on itsl revarside two bosses 23, which are of a size to fit snugly I within the lowergroove 17 of the upper bar 10 and the upper groove of the lower bar 11.Now, When the nut 21 is drawn up tightly, clamping the bars `1O and 11between the plates 18 and 19, the bosses 23 cooperate with the grooves17 in which they restto efl'ec-. tlvely prevent any relative movement ofthe bars 10 and 11 in their common plane, either toward or away fromeach other. The plate 18, it will be observed.l is comparatively small,not etending more than half Way across the width of the bars 10 and 11,and it will be 'observed further that no spacer block between'these barsis required. The plate 18k may conveniently carry an emblem 24 ifdesired.

It may be desirable, in some cases, to employ my clamp at points otherthan the middle of the bumper, or where the rear bar lies adjacentc .tothe impact bars, and .in such cases the clamp is identical with thatherein illustrated, except that in'asmuch as the bolt does not thenextend through the bar 13 its length may be correspondingly reduced.

Figures 5 and 6 show the invention applied to use with impact bars 25and 26 having but a single groove 27. The outer clamp plate 28 hasb'osses 29 on its rear surface similar to the bosses 23 previouslydescribed. But

in this modification I have also illustrated a the bars 25 and 26 inproper position under all normal conditions.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is: i *i 1. In a bumperfor automobiles, a pair of substantially parallel impact 4bars spacedapart, eachl of said bars having/a longitudinally extending groove inits outer face, and a clamp for said bars comprising a plate overlyingthe grooved surfaces of said bars, said plate being provided with bossesof a width to fit said grooves,a second plate overlying the oppositesurfaces of said bars, and a bolt joining said plates between said bars.

. 2. In a bumper for automobiles, a pair of 30 impact bars havingsubstantially parallel portions spaced apart in the plane of the bars,each of said bars having a longitudinally extending groove in its outerface, a clamp for said bars comprising a plate overlying the groovedsurfaces of the bars, said plate being provided with bossesof a width tofit said grooves, a second plate overlying the opposite surfaces of saidbars, al third bar upon the opposite side of said second plate oppositethe said space between the first named bars, and a clamping bolt locatedin /said space and securing` together said plates and third bar.

3.. In a bumper for automobiles, a pair of impact bars havingsubstantially parallel portions spaced apart in the plane of the bars,each of said bars having a longitudinally extending groove in its outerface, a clamp for said bars 'comprising a ,plate overlying the oute'rsurfaces of both bars, said plate being provided with bosses of a widthto fit said grooves, a plate overlyingthe inner surfaces of both bars,and a bolt extending through the space between the bars for holding saidplates together, and means for spacing said 'bars apart comprising apair of lugs extending from one of said plate/s into the space be-ltween the plates and between the bars.

In'testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature.

GEORGE w. vnALE.

